Beyond The Glade || Seungin

V The Altar of Light and Escape

The interior of the temple was incredibly mysterious. The low light emanating from an unknown source deep within the hall cast shadows on the cold stone walls. Jeongin and I crossed the threshold of the doors, which closed behind us with a soft metallic sound. Our breaths seemed loud in the deep silence, and each step on the stone floor echoed in the empty corridors.

The temple was filled with ancient statues and reliefs depicting strange, unfamiliar beings and scenes that resembled none of the legends we knew. Jeongin stopped by one of the reliefs that showed a creature with many arms holding various objects—from keys to skulls.

“This must have some significance” said the boy, pointing at the relief. “Maybe it’s a clue for our task.”

I looked closely, and my gaze stopped on a small, almost invisible symbol that stood out against the relief. “Maybe this is something we should understand” I said hesitantly.

Just then, we heard a noise coming from outside—footsteps and voices. I felt my heart race. I knew those sounds could mean only one thing—someone was chasing us. It could be our parents, maybe the police—their pursuit had become an inseparable part of our escape.

“We need to hurry” I said, feeling the tension rising in my voice. “They’re close.”

We turned toward the main chamber of the temple, where the altar was located at the center of the hall. The altar was adorned with mysterious runes and a multitude of ancient artifacts that looked valuable and unknown.

“This must be the key” stated Jeongin, pointing at the central artifact on the altar. “Maybe this leads to the 'Heart of the Forest'.”

We began to examine the altar, trying to understand how we could use the artifact to uncover more of the temple or gain some clues. However, the noise from outside grew louder and more distinct. Someone was getting closer.

“We have to do this now” said Jeongin, starting to manipulate the artifact. I tried to help him, but we both felt the rising tension and fear.

As we managed to activate the mechanism, a part of the temple wall began to shift, revealing a hidden chamber. Inside was an old, dusty scroll. Jeongin carefully opened it, and the contents revealed a map that could guide us further.

“This must be the way to the 'Heart of the Forest'” said the boy, taking the map in his hands. “But we need to get out of here before it’s too late.”

At that moment, we heard louder voices and footsteps coming from outside. Someone was very close. We exchanged worried glances, knowing we had to act quickly.

We exited the hidden chamber, returning to the main entrance. As we approached the doors leading outside, into the forest, the conversations and shouts grew clearer. We knew our parents and the police were right behind us.

“We need to find a way to hide” I said, struggling to suppress the tremor in my voice. “If they catch us, it’s over.”

When we finally reached the exit, we felt a momentary relief, but we knew we had to act fast. The wall of the forest, which was meant to be our refuge, now seemed our only hope.

We slipped into the woods, trying to make no noise and avoid the sight of anyone. Pain, fatigue, and fear chased us relentlessly, but we knew we had a long road ahead. Now, however, with the map in hand and determination in our hearts, we felt hope for finding freedom.

The path led us through the dark, dense forest, but our hearts were filled with hope. Finding the “Heart of the Forest” could be the key to our freedom, and despite the uncertainty that still surrounded us, I felt we were on the right track.